Often referred to as the “gateway to Mt. Rainier,” Auburn has plenty to offer outdoor enthusiasts, including a vast network of parks and trails, golf courses, fishing spots, and biking routes.
Residents in Auburn enjoy a thick suburban atmosphere, and most own their houses. There are several parks and coffee cafes in Auburn.
Auburn has a large population of families and young professionals, and its citizens often have moderate political views. Auburn’s public schools are better than average.
Below are some fun things to do in Auburn, WA.
Things to Do in Auburn, WA
1. Neely Mansion
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The David Neely family, one of the first to settle in Washington’s Green River Valley, occupied the Victorian-style Neely Mansion, which was constructed in the late 1800s.
The Neelys were well known for welcoming friends and neighbors who frequently stayed the night there when traveling to Auburn. They would all hire local fiddlers and dance all night long.
The Neely family held the home until the middle of the 1970s. Still, it wasn’t until 1984 that the Neely Mansion Association acquired the property and started rehabilitating it so the public could see it.
Visitors may view distinctive architectural and décor elements, including the exquisite scrollwork, the central round window, and the high ceilings in the roomy parlor in this magnificent and ancient piece of architecture.
Location: 12303 SE Auburn-Black Diamond Rd, Auburn, WA 98002
2. Athens Pizza And Pasta
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In addition to Mediterranean delicacies, mouthwatering pizzas, and pasta, Athens Pizza and Pasta is a Greek restaurant that offers a variety of foods from the country’s traditional menu.
The restaurant is family-owned and run, has been in operation for more than 30 years, and takes pleasure in being a vital part of the neighborhood.
Locals and tourists like returning to Athens to talk with the welcoming staff while enjoying the delectable fare.
The Auburn Reporter named them the “Best Pizza in Auburn,” but there are so many other items on their menu that you should also try.
The Fettuccini Louie, a ribbon-style pasta dish sautéed with zucchini and boneless chicken, is a must-try.
Location: 959 E Main St, Auburn, WA 98002
3. Las Margaritas
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A family-run restaurant franchise called Las Margaritas serves a variety of real Mexican food.
Their menu has some of the greatest Mexican cuisines you’ll find in the neighborhood, all of which is prepared with real, fresh ingredients to ensure that customers enjoy a balanced meal.
Since they’ve served their traditional Mexican food for more than 30 years, locals and tourists in Auburn have come to love it.
The beef carnitas served with rice and refried beans, the spinach and cheese quesadilla, and the Enchiladas Divorciadas, which consist of three tortillas loaded with chicken or beef topped with three different handmade sauces, are also popular dishes to try.
Location: 1525 A St NE, Auburn, WA 98002
4. Sunny Terikayi
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Sunny Teriyaki is the place to go if you’re in the mood for traditional teriyaki combinations and quick-to-make Chinese favorites that satisfy every time.
An accomplished Master Chef with more than thirty years of expertise runs the straightforward eatery.
Their primary goal is to provide customers with real teriyaki and Chinese food, prepared to utilize traditional techniques handed down through the years.
Try their spicy chicken teriyaki or the short rib teriyaki, which comes with salad and steamed rice if you enjoy teriyaki.
The Szechuan beef, Kung Pao chicken, shrimp yakisoba, and beef fried rice are further popular restaurant dishes.
Location: 914 D St NE, Auburn, WA 98002
5. Sushi Konami
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Everything from beef teriyaki and agedashi tofu to salmon skin rolls and Hawaiian tuna poke can be found at Sushi Konami.
To keep the menu current while maintaining the authenticity of traditional tastes, they are continually coming up with new rolls and meals.
The restaurant launched in 2013 to differentiate itself from the other sushi bars that sprang up all around Seattle by providing its customers with homemade-style meals.
All ages of diners like taking a seat at the bar and watching the cooks hone their skills in the open kitchen.
You’ll feel right at home if you’re an expert sushi eater, and if you’re a new customer, the friendly chefs and staff will walk you through all you need to know to enjoy your meal.
Location: 1410 Lake Tapps Pkwy E Suite H103, Auburn, WA 98092
6. Emeralds Down
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The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe owns the thoroughbred racetrack Emerald Downs, a well-liked Auburn destination that debuted in 1996.
It has been a venue for over 20 years, hosting several yearly events, including the Longacres Mile Handicap. You will be amazed by the one-mile track at Emerald Downs with Mount Rainier in the distance.
Eleven barns to house the horses and horsemen, a 17,300 square foot sales pavilion, a mitigation site, and an equestrian hospital with a surgical suite, two recovery rooms, a radiology room, an isolation stall, and more are other features to keep an eye out for.
Location: 2300 Ron Crockett Dr, Auburn, WA 98001
7. Outlet Collection Seattle
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In-Store Collection Seattle, formerly known as the SuperMall of the Great Northwest, was founded in 1995.
The outlet mall is a great spot to spend the day eating, shopping, and having a great time with the whole family.
The Ann Taylor Factory Store, Lane Bryant Outlet, Banana Republic, Men’s Wearhouse, Marshalls, Burlington Coat Factory, Old Navy, Eddie Bauer, Van Heusen, and more are some of the most well-known retailers there.
You may indulge in a meal at their food court or at restaurants like Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen, Mr. Wu’s Chinese Gourmet, and Que Chido Mexican Food after a day of shopping for clothes, accessories, shoes, home products, and other things.
Location: 1101 Outlet Collection Way, Auburn, WA 98001
8. Flaming Geyser Park
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Near the city of Black Diamond, on the Green River, is Flaming Geyser, State Park. It was called after a flame that blazed through a concrete basin a thousand feet below the surface and was fed by a pocket of methane gas.
The neighboring “Bubbling Geyser” is caused by the same methane pocket. The majority of park visitors today come for the variety of summertime outdoor activities that are offered there.
The Salmon Interpretive Trail features signs that explain a lot about the biological environment of the region. You may go tubing or rafting down the river, hike on the paths, or fly remote-controlled model airplanes in the approved area.
Location: 23700 SE Flaming Geyser Rd, Auburn, WA 98092
9. Soos Creek Botanical Garden
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In addition to a historical museum, ravine gardens, and a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and other plants, Soos Creek is a stunning public botanical garden. Visitors frequently describe a stroll around the gardens as tranquil and inspiring.
You’ll learn more about the many plants kept there and horticultural conservation. To truly grasp everything you’ll encounter at Soos Creek, you may join a docent-led tour if you make an early request.
Bring a basket lunch and take advantage of the opportunity to picnic in the specified locations while soaking in the amazing beauty of the garden.
Location: 29308 132nd Ave SE, Auburn, WA 98092
10. White River Valley Museum
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The White River Valley Museum, a historical institution founded in 1996, was developed by the White River Valley Historical Society and the City of Auburn as a venue for educating future generations about the area’s rich history.
The museum and its collection of excellently maintained local historical relics are open to the public.
The main topics of the museum’s permanent collection are the Northern Pacific Railroad, local Puget Sound history, Japanese-Americans, and Northwest Indian culture.
You may view a Japanese farmhouse from 1915, a Muckleshoot Indian Tribe riverboat display, and a recreation of Downtown Auburn in the 1920s. Les Gove Park is where it is.
Location: 918 H St SE, Auburn, WA 98002
11. White River Amphitheatre
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The White River Amphitheatre, a well-known performance venue on the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation, is run by Live Nation.
It is fairly big, with a total seating capacity of 16,000 people, more than half of whom will be in covered seats. The 98-acre project took years to complete and required over $30 million in contemporary modifications.
Both sides of the stage are equipped with video displays, and the metal roof has been coated to improve acoustics. There have been notable performances by Jimmy Buffett, Iron Maiden, and Sting over the years.
Keep an eye on their calendar when you are there because several music events are held there, especially in the summer.
Location:: 40601 Auburn Enumclaw Rd SE, Auburn, WA 98092
12. Auburn Pioneer Cemetery
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The Faucett Cemetery and the Cemetery at Slaughter were once known as the Auburn Pioneer Cemetery.
The cemetery, home to thousands of graves, serves as a living museum of Auburn’s long history and those who have created its landscape.
The cemetery is no longer accepting new burials. However, today’s tourists still go there to explore the graves of the people who formerly lived in the White River Valley, many of whom were Japanese and Japanese Americans buried there.
The graves are divided into four categories: “Pioneer” burials with markers in Kanji, “Pioneer” burials with markers in English, “Pioneer” burials without markers, and unmarked “Pioneer” burials.
Although many visitors are the ancestors of individuals interred there, many others travel to learn about a significant period in Auburn’s history.
Location: Auburn Way N, Auburn, WA 98002